- Date
- January 12, 1988, 16:00 local (Jan 13, 1988, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- San Diego, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- XBDGHBell 47G-2A1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 25802
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Pilots complacency in performing the preflight inspection. His failure to disconnect the two tie downs straps attached to the right side of the helicopter resulted the roll.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter was parked and tied down on a helipad on board a ship that was docked. The pilot/mechanic failed to release the two right side tie down straps before attempting to hover. When the helicopter lifted from the pad it rolled over. The aircraft's fuel tanks were ruptured during the impact sequence and provided for the post crash fire. The fire substantially damaged the ship and destroyed the helicopter.
Aircraft
- Registration
- XBDGH
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-2A1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2818
- Airframe hours
- 9,024
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1F, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Atunera Maya Sa De Cv.
- Registered owner
- Atunera Mayasa Decv
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 8, 1988
- Departed
- San Diego, CA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Invalid Medical for flight
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SAN, 1 nm away